Often, bulking feels like a breeze. Especially when there’s pizza on the menu. But before you know it, summer’s here and cutting season is on your doorstep. Then, toning up all the mass you’ve gained feels like an uphill struggle, especially when it comes to losing those er, shall we say, flabby bits. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that bodybuilders turn to steroids. When it comes to your cutting cycle, clenbuterol is one of the most popular steroids around. So what does it do to your body? And how does it affect it?
But before we get into its side effects, let’s talk about what clenbuterol even is.
What is clenbuterol?
Clenbuterol – or clenbuterol hydrochloride – is a sympathomimetic amine. Despite its original purpose as a bronchodilator for patients with breathing disorders, clenbuterol (also known as ‘Clen’) soon became one of the most popular weight loss drugs around. With powerful fat-burning capabilities, you won’t be shocked to hear it has been associated with A-listers such as Britney Spears, Victoria Beckham and Lindsay Lohan. If Britney Spears and fellow celebs use clenbuterol, it can’t be that bad… Right?
Although clen shakes may have burst into mainstream media as LA’s secret to staying skinny, clenbuterol isn’t actually a steroid. Nope, that’s right. It is simply considered a steroid due to its association with anabolic steroid users. It does remain illegal to buy over-the-counter, though, despite its use today by bodybuilders during their cutting cycle.
One of the side effects associated with clenbuterol is its ability to raise your body’s core temperature. But why? Well, in raising your body’s core temperature your energy expenditure will increase – therefore allowing you to burn more calories. This is one reason why it remains so popular with bodybuilders who are looking for muscle definition during their cutting cycle.
Yet again, clenbuterol wasn’t created for humans looking to get lean. Due to its extremely powerful nature, it was originally used to help boost the growth of lean muscle mass… In animals. In some countries, it’s considered a go-to to medicinally treat horses. However, if clenbuterol is given to a horse, they’re no longer considered fit for human consumption. Says a lot really, doesn’t it?
If you’ve been looking to take clen shakes for bodybuilding, you have more than likely come across some of the following brands. Most commonly abused by those looking to cut fat – Ventipulmin, Clenovet and Dilaterol – have been around for a while now. However, they’re all meant for veterinary use, so unless you’re a horse in need of treatment (and we’re not talking bodybuilding help), I’d back right away!
As you may expect, the side effects of clenbuterol are more than a little dodgy. But what can it really do to you?
Here are five clen side effects you most certainly want to avoid.
1. Sweating
As we previously mentioned, clenbuterol works by increasing your core body temperature. This slight increase (about half a degree or just over), stimulates fat cells and increases the rate at which your body breaks down triglycerides to form free fatty acids. You might think, what’s the harm in that? Well, at the same time, your body tries to regulate your temperature to around 37°C (98.6°F). Sure it might only be half a degree or so, but this will result in sweating as your body looks to cool the surface of your skin.
2. Uncontrollable shakes
You might have wondered, does clenbuterol give you energy? Well, yes, but your hands even more so. Due to its manipulations of the nervous system, Clen can lead to uncontrollable trembling, especially of the hands. This is an extremely common side effect of clenbuterol and a pretty uncomfortable one at that. A few shakes might not seem too daunting, but they’re not to be taken lightly.
3. Insomnia
Clenbuterol is a stimulant, so you may find it hard to sleep at night. Although its ability to keep activity levels in the body high can help burn fat, it won’t help you get any shuteye. When you’re dying for some sleep the next morning, dragging yourself to prepare food and a clen shake don’t quite seem so tempting. If you like laying awake at night feeling like you’re still buzzed, knock yourself out (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves).
4. Muscle cramps
Unexpected muscle cramps are the absolute worst, especially when you feel as though you can’t put your foot to the floor! If you start taking Clen, you better get used to the good ol’ clenbuterol cramps! Yep, if you use Clen you may increase the amount of taurine and potassium you lose in your urine – resulting in painful muscle cramps. Owww!
5. Palipiations – with risks of a heart attack
A couple of clenbuterol cramps, laying awake at night, the sweats and uncontrollable trembling might not sound too bad to you… But maybe this will. Any drug, unless prescribed by a medical professional, has the ability to cause heart irregularities. So you should definitely approach it with caution.
If you think a cup of coffee gets you buzzed, you’d be highly surprised by clenbuterol’s effects – however, one miscalculated dose and you could induce a heart attack.
Conclusion
Of course, any stimulant can be dangerous and cause a variety of side effects – but clenbuterol’s powerful nature makes it even riskier. One quick decision and miscalculation can have devastating effects, leading to cardiac arrest. To make matters worse, many in search for clen shakes immediately look to the black market before considering safe, legal alternatives such as CCUT.
It makes sense. We totally get you might want to look like Britney Spears – or you might just be looking to cut fat fast – but there are safer ways to go about it.
Before putting your body through nightmare sleep (sorry, we did it again), palpitations, clenbuterol cramps and even more side effects consider your health first. Don’t risk an incorrect dosage, achieve incredible results with a safe, 100% legal alternative.
